Tennis racket



A. H. BEHR TENNIS RACKET Jan. 5 1926.

Filed May 13 1925 lNVENTORt filler .BeZ/r I jam y ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 5, 1926,

UNITED STATES ALLEN H. BEHR, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

TENNIS RACKET.

Application filed May 13, 1925.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALLEN H. BEHR, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the borough of Brooklyn, county of Kings, city and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tennis Rackets, of which the following is a specification suflicient to enable those skilled in the art to which the invention appertains to utilize the same.

My improvements relate to the manfacture of rackets, so called, used in the game of tennis; and more particularly to the cords used in the formation of the network thereof,-and designed to afford an intersticcd woven contactual impact surface of superior elasticity and resilience, of exceptional strength and durability, and which is not affected by moisture or change of atmospheric conditions, the present invention being supplementary to that described and claimed in Letters Patent #1,531,835, (issued to me March 31st 1925) and consisting in the specific construction, combination and arrange 1 ment of component parts described and claimed herein, the distinctive feature being the use of a network strand comprising a core of animal ligature, tendon, or sinew treated with glue, covered with a textile material, and coated externally with a waterproof varnish, all as hereinafter fully set forth. i

In the accompanying drawings I illustrate a practical embodiment of the essential features of my invention, although I do not restrict myself to the identical form and construction of parts shown herein by way of exemplification, since modifications in minor details, and equivalent mechanical expedients may be resorted to with like results, and without departing from the spirit and intent of my invention in this respect.

With this understanding Fig. 1, is a perspective view of a tennis racket made in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 2, a detail view on an enlarged scale illustrating the construction of the impact cord; and

Fig. 3, is a transverse section taken upon plane of line 3-3, Fig. 2.

My improved impact cord C, is applied to a racket frame F, of any desired or ordinary,

Serial No. 29,957.

construction, said frame F, being formed with the usual perforations f, f, for the threading and support of the laced cord C, I

which thus constitutes the impact medium for contacting with a tennis ball.

Said impact cord consists essentially of a central strand or core 0, of animal ligature impregnated with glue, to impart to it additional strength and tenacity; and around this cord 0, thus prepared, I weave or wind a covering 0, of silk thread or equivalent textile material, the latter being in turn covered and surfaced with a coating of waterproof varnish c as indicated more particularly in Figs. 2 and 3, of the drawings.

By this formation of racket impact'cord C, the glue-impregnated animal ligature 0, is reinforced and strengthened by the textile covering 0 without impairing its flexibility, While the outer casing of varnish renders the whole impervious to moisture, so that a relatively strong, tenacious. elastic resilient impact surface may be woven upon and within the frame F, not subject to deterioration by reason of changes in atmospheric conditions, and of relatively long life and utility.

The silk or other textile fabric 0 covering and in direct contact with the core of glue-impregnated animal ligature, acts as an absorbent medium and binder for the external coating of waterproof varnish, thereby effectually protecting the cord in a unitary sense, and maintaining and pro longing its efficiency.

In certain. cases it may be desirable to weave the silk-covered ligature on the racket frame before the waterproof varnish is applied as a coating to said cord,-the application of the waterproof varnish to the cord thus in position, as when applied to the fabric covered glue-impregnated ligature in a preliminary stage. I do not however limit myself to the use of a waterproof varnish in this connection, since any varnish will act as a protective medium.

It is to be understood that by the term animal ligature as herein used Imean to include also what are designated as tendons, sinews, etc., adapted to the purpose.

I have demonstrated by experimental investigation that my new impact medium for tennis rackets has superior tensile strength and endurance, and that the liability to shrinkage from use or variations in atmospheric conditions is practically eliminated.

lVhat I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. A tennis racket having an impact medium consisting of a weave of cord comprising a core of glue-impregnated animal ligature, enclosed in a textile covering coated with waterproof varnish, substantially in the manner and for the purpose set forth.

2. An impact medium for tennis rackets comprising a core of glue-impregnated animal ligature, enclosed in a textile covering coated with waterproof varnish, substantially in the manner and for the purpose set forth.

3. A tennis racket having an impact 2 medium consisting of a weave of cord comprising a core of glue-impregnated animal ligature, enclosed in sill: and covered with waterproof varnish, substantially in the manner and for the purpose set forth.

l. An impact medium for tennis rackets con'iprising a core of glue-impregnated ani mal ligature, enclosed in a weave of silk, substantially in the manner and for the purpose set forth.

0. An impact medium for tennis rackets 30 comprising a glue-impregnated animal ligature, enclosed in a weave of textile fabric. substantially in the manner and for the purpose set forth.

(3. An impact medium for tennis rackets comprising a core of glue-impregnated animal ligature, enclosed in a Weave of textile fabric coated with varnish, substantially in the manner and for the purpose set forth.

ALLEN H. BEA ER. 

